"Strix 4, confirm attack order."
A perfectly aimed rocket flew toward the building.
"Damn, we're screwed—"
Nicole and the others hurriedly took cover.
Only our adorable Little Herrscher remained standing where she was, watching the little troublemaker fly toward her.
She scratched her head, then grabbed it with one hand.
"What the heck is this?"
That move scared the piss out of Nicole's group and everyone from the Crimson Fang Gang.
"No, Herrscher of Reason! Throw it away, now!! It's dangerous!"
"But... other than being a little louder than a firecracker, I didn't feel any sense of danger from it."
Little Herrscher spread her hands at Nicole.
She was still holding the smoking shell in her hand.
"I'm begging you, sis. You're my ancestor, my goddess, please put away your divine powers! We can't handle this thing!!"
Nicole dropped to her knees.
"Exactly, great Ms. Herrscher of Reason. If that thing blows up, my body parts will be scattered everywhere."
"Fine, fine. It's just a firecracker. Look how scared you all are."
After picking at her ear, Little Herrscher casually threw the missile back.
But just as it flew out the window, the armed helicopter fired another missile at them.
And so, under the assault of two missiles, the building exploded violently.
Outside the window, the immense shockwave sent quite a few people flying.
Including, but not limited to, Billy, whose crotch was getting roasted.
Anby, whose skirt did not get messed up even after several flips.
And the safe.
"I'm filing a complaint—!!!"
Needless to say, Old Bai and the others were blown away too.
At the scene, the smoke and dust cleared.
Little Herrscher opened her crimson eyes, her face covered in soot.
She blinked, then looked toward the armed helicopter.
"You *****ing stupid *****! Just say what you want!"
Rolling up her blackened sleeves, Little Herrscher swung her hand back.
In an instant, the Hidden-Blade Sheath unfolded, and a black-and-red spear flew into her hand.
After giving it a couple of swings, she hurled it straight at the armed helicopter.
A crimson meteor streaked across the sky.
It pierced right through the helicopter.
The spear flew back to her. Little Herrscher looked at the distant explosion and let out a breath.
"What's wrong with that guy? He fired two in a row."
Nicole, crouching behind Little Herrscher, was now too stunned to speak coherently.
But, Fu Hua, your little sister was seriously tough. She took two missiles head-on?!
"Yo, Nicole. You okay?"
"Ahahaha, with the protection of the great Herrscher of Reason, of course I'm fine."
Nicole had shown remarkable foresight.
She had hurriedly hidden behind Little Herrscher.
That was why she had not been blasted away.
"What now? The little iron man and that white-haired girl fell in?"
"It's fine, it's fine. I've got connections. I'll go find the Legendary Proxy for help."
"Oh, as long as they can be saved, that's fine. In that case, I'm leaving."
Seeing Little Herrscher preparing to ride the Hidden-Blade Sheath away, Nicole hurriedly wrapped herself around her thigh.
"Don't go, great Ms. Herrscher of Reason.
You have to save my companions. They're my beloved family and closest friends!!"
"Hey, let go first. I need to ask Old Fossil about this."
"Ask first. Once you agree, I'll naturally let go..."
With her mouth twitching, Little Herrscher pulled out her phone from her crotch, pressed a few buttons, and put it to her ear.
Beep beep...
Before it even rang twice, the phone turned to ash and drifted into the air.
Little Herrscher and Nicole both froze at the sight.
"No, I just bought that phone! It got cremated before I even used it."
"It's fine, it's fine. I'll contact her for you."
With that, Nicole pulled out her flip phone and began messaging Fu Hua.
Before long, after Nicole and Fu Hua had reached an agreement, Nicole stood up and said with a smile,
"As expected, Fu Hua wouldn't abandon me. Great Ms. Herrscher of Reason, please.
When the time comes, I'll give you twenty percent of the commission fee!"
"Fine, but there's no need for the commission fee. I was planning to go in and have some fun anyway."
With that, Little Herrscher grabbed the Hidden-Blade Sheath and leaped down in a leap of faith.
"Hehe, when it comes to connections, Cunning Rabbit House has the real deal—"
After boasting, Nicole hurried toward Sixth Street.
Inside the Hollow.
Little Herrscher fell for quite a while before she finally saw the ground.
At that moment, a white-haired girl wearing headphones was slashing at Ethereals with an electric blade.
"Oho~ Down there, move aside—I'm landing!"
Anby looked up, her pupils shrinking at once. She immediately rolled several times to the side.
The Ethereals left where they were had it rough.
Little Herrscher descended with divine judgment.
She smashed a huge crater into the ground.
When the dust cleared, she burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! So this is a Hollow. It doesn't feel very challenging, but that spatial transfer just now was like riding a roller coaster.
That was pretty fun."
Anby poked her head out and looked over.
"Hey, Little White Hair. Stop hiding and come over."
"...! Yes, great Ms. Herrscher of Reason."
Raising an eyebrow, Little Herrscher walked over and patted Anby on the shoulder.
"Not bad, not bad. You know what's what. Your boss went to find that... what was his name, Nantong.
Until then, I'll protect you."
"Nantong?"
"Yeah, I think he's some kind of Legendary Cobbler too."
"Le-Legendary... Cobbler!"
"Huh, judging by your expression, it seems you've never heard of him."
"Mm. I've been with Nicole for so long, but I've never seen a cobbler with a Nantong fetish."
Little Herrscher waved it off without caring.
"It's fine, no big deal. Just stick with me."
"Understood. With the great Ms. Herrscher of Reason's help.
Anby's survival probability in the Hollow can be raised to one hundred percent."
Just then, a robot in a red jacket ran over.
"Hey—! Found you, Anby."
Before Billy could say anything, Anby went straight at him with a slash.
"Whoa, whoa, Anby, what are you doing? You almost cut me just now."
"An intelligent individual has been encountered. He appears to resemble my coworker: Billy Chide."
"What are you talking about? It's me, Billy—"
"Oh~? Is this guy an Ethereal? Leave him to me—"
Little Herrscher swung the Hidden-Blade Sheath in her hand and slashed at him.
"Wait, wait, wait—!!! Spare this machine, great Ms. Herrscher of Reason!"
Looking at the massive sword case inches from his face, Billy finally let out a breath of relief.
He wiped the oil off his face and said,
"I really am Billy, Anby, Ms. Herrscher of Reason!"
"Investigators once encountered Ethereals in the Hollow that could imitate human speech and behavior."
"After an investigator rescued a teammate impersonated by an Ethereal from the Hollow, the monster revealed its true form."
"The city paid an enormous price. In the end, thanks to a brave investigator sacrificing herself and pushing the Ethereal back into the Hollow.
The crisis was finally resolved."
"Boohoohoo~ That's so touching—"
Little Herrscher had already started crying.
"So Ethereals are this sinister and cunning. I'll blast this impostor to pieces right now—"
"Wait!! I really am Billy! Also, that was a movie plot, wasn't it?!
Ethereals die if they leave the Hollow—"
"Wait! Great Ms. Herrscher of Reason.
Don't come any closer—"
Before you continue